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Archives - November 2012

The first time I went to the barn shelter by myself, there was nary a cat in sight- they all hid, shy and still unsure of who I was or why I was there. All except one that is: a big, friendly black panther of a cat came strolling towards me, an instant welcome wagon, assuring me that I belonged. His name was Pharaoh, and I knew that we would be fast friends. Craving affection and attention, I showered him with all the petting he could handle, which was clearly an infinite and endless amount. It was hard to get away from this guy: I felt immediately attached to him, his kindness and friendliness, and I wanted to stay there and pet him forever rather than tend to the litter or the dishes.

It quickly became clear that Pharaoh was the king of the barn, the tenderhearted boss of the shelter. Each time I returned, he would saunter right up to me, ready for the love and attention he knew he deserved. Often, he would often follow me around as I completed the chores, as though monitoring how I was doing. Sometimes he would meow a friendly call, and I would stop to pet him some more.

When I was done, I would ultimately return to him, as he lazed in the sun, or curled up away from the rain, and beckoned with his friendly face. At dinner time, Pharaoh happily sampled each bowl as though it was his own private smorgasbord. Each week I felt bad for leaving him, and looked forward to seeing him again soon. Pharaoh, more than any other cat there, made the barn into a special home. When I pet his friends or handed out treats, Pharaoh ran right up to get more than his fair share, which I was always happy to give.

Pharaoh passed away this morning from cancer. I know that he has found a special place in many volunteers’ hearts, and his memory will be with us for much longer. He is truly a king among cats, a shining example of the love that animals have to give. I am grateful to VOKRA for saving this boy, and giving him a happy life and home.

VOKRA sees 1400+ cats and kittens a year and our favourite part is to hear from them in their new furever homes! Hoover was adopted about a month ago and was originally found living beneath a vacuum store in Vancouver which is how he got his name!

From Hoover's new Guardian:

"I've now had Hoover for a full month. He's in my arms as I type this, as he's never one to turn down a chance to cuddle - or to play. He's very social and loving; he's popular with all of my friends and loves to get an armpit rub while flopping in someone's lap. He likes sitting on his scratching post, making biscuits, catching mice, and taking long, romantic walks in the sooty fireplace. He is a very special guy who brightens up my days. Oh, and he's learned to looooove his Wellness morsels in delicious gravy."

The Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA) will receive 20% of Arbonne beauty product revenues for the months of October and November. Keep reading for detailed instructions.

Arbonne is a line of high quality beauty products that are vegan (contain no animal by-products) and are never tested on animals.Their lines include cosmetics, skin care, anti-aging, and health products.

VOKRA provides foster homes for stray cats and kittens found in the lower mainland. 20% of your Arbonne purchases will go directly towards supplies, operational costs, and their trap-neuter-return (TNR) program. VOKRA has thousands of cats and kittens thanks to the generosity of volunteers. Visit their website at http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/home/ for more information.

There is a growing demand for natural beauty products, and the Arbonne beauty line fulfills those needs. The Arbonne promise is, “To deliver pure, safe, and beneficial products in line with our botanical tradition.” The company sells holiday gifts sets, making Christmas shopping a cinch.

For you guys out there who want to make a great impression, how about buying your gal the “Arbonne the Angel” perfume. Don’t forget to discreetly mention how you rescued a couple kittens. Girls go crazy over compassionate eco-friendly men. Meeeooowa!

Go to http://www.arbonne.com and register with consultant ID #115521883 until the end of November. You’ll be an environmentally conscious consumer and a kitten saviour. So kill two birds with one stone, ahem, rescue two kittens with one Arbonne purchase, and feel beautiful inside and out.